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The rotunda of the Low Memorial Library at Columbia University was transformed into media land Wednesday night, with the spotlight on ROONE ARLEDGE, the once and venerable head of ABC Sports and ABC News.

Mr. Arledge, who stepped down as chief of ABC News in June, is a 1952 Columbia alumnus who has been credited with revolutionizing network news coverage in a 30-year career at ABC.

The normally staid library was outfitted with a giant screen for watching a videotape of the honoree's career, and for the first time anyone could remember, a sound system that tamed its acoustical idiosyncrasies.

Mr. Arledge responded with an anecdote, quoting his mother: ''You know there is so much garbage on TV. I am so proud of you. I always knew you would rise to the top of the heap.''

Jury Duty Gets Star Treatment

Justice may be blind, but jurors sometimes see stars.

ROBERT De NIRO and HARVEY KEITEL were among those summoned to jury duty in Manhattan this year and they were back yesterday to pose for pictures as part of the city's third annual Juror Appreciation Day.

Mr. Keitel and Mr. De Niro looked more like defendants, unshaven and in sneakers, jeans and leather jackets. Neither had been impaneled, and each was sheepish and short in his speech.

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''It's a system that has to work,'' Mr. De Niro said.''The only way it works is if everybody's involved in it, so I'm for it.''

Mr. De Niro attracted the most flash photography, but another guest, IRV GIKOFSKY, the television weatherman known as Mr. G., got all the laughs. ''I work three minutes a day,'' he said. ''Fifteen minutes a week. An hour a month.'' Jury duty, with its hourlong commuting and full-day waiting, is too much, he said, adding: ''I need a nap. All I can tell you is, it's going to be cloudy this afternoon. And it's going to rain tomorrow.''

Biting Hand, Etc.

It seems that everywhere that MARILYN MODE, the Police Department's Deputy Commissioner for Public Information, goes, Lil, her little white dog, is sure to go, too. Lil has toured the city's station houses and gone on gang-busting raids. But Lil's presence at headquarters has not always been popular. Sometimes she barks. One time, she became the prime suspect in the case of a policeman's missing lunch.

Now there is a new complaint. According to three officers who insisted on anonymity, Lil bit a sergeant on Wednesday. Although the dog never broke flesh, they said, some wondered if Lil's days at work were numbered. Lil may now meet the Patrol Guide's definition of a dangerous dog: ''any dog that, when unprovoked, approaches, or menaces, any person in a dangerous or terrorizing manner.''

Ms. Mode was out of town yesterday and could not be reached for comment.

Police officials said that they were not sure whether Lil was covered by the 48-hour rule, which gives department members two business days before they can be interviewed about potential misconduct.

CHARLES STRUM with Jodi Wilgoren and Michael Cooper

Correction: November 24, 1998

A brief report in some editions on Friday about an appearance by Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel at New York City's third annual Juror Appreciation Day misstated their experiences on jury duty this year. Mr. De Niro was not chosen for a jury, but he was impaneled. Mr. Keitel was chosen, but the case settled before his jury had a chance to deliberate.

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